Senate · WI

Tammy Sue Baldwin

D · WIAge 63· Progressive Democrat

Tammy Baldwin represents Wisconsin in the U.S. Senate since January 2013, making history as the first openly LGBT U.S. senator. She won re-election in November 2024 by approximately 1 percentage point against Republican challenger Eric Hovde. She is a member of the Senate HELP and Appropriations Committees. She co-led the Respect for Marriage Act (2022) with Senator Susan Collins, codifying federal recognition of same-sex marriage. Her priorities include healthcare access, manufacturing-sector support, and consumer protection.

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The Featured Four

Promises that define the record.

Four promises chosen to span how voters across the political spectrum view this politician's record.

KeptLGBTQ+ RightsPROMISE #1

Co-author and pass Respect for Marriage Act.

Verdict reasoning

Baldwin co-authored the Respect for Marriage Act with Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME); passed Senate 61-36 on November 29, 2022; signed by President Biden on December 13, 2022. Codifies federal recognition of same-sex and interracial marriages. Approximately 7 million Americans in same-sex marriages affected. Substantive promise outcome achieved.

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The Respect for Marriage Act was a Baldwin priority across her Senate tenure. After Justice Thomas's Dobbs concurrence (June 2022) questioned the precedential basis for Obergefell v. Hodges, Baldwin and Collins led bipartisan negotiations on a federal codification. The bill repeals the Defense of Marriage Act (1996) and requires federal recognition of any marriage valid in the state where it was performed. It also protects interracial marriage from any future overturning of Loving v. Virginia. Passed 61-36 in the Senate with 12 Republicans joining all Democrats. House voted 258-169-1. Biden signed at a White House ceremony December 13, 2022.

PartialHealthcarePROMISE #2

Expand Affordable Care Act / public option.

Verdict reasoning

ACA subsidies were extended via IRA (Baldwin YES). Public option did not pass. Medicare drug-pricing negotiation enacted via IRA. Coverage expansion delivered partially through ACA subsidies, not public-option route.

KeptIndustrial PolicyPROMISE #3

Buy American / domestic manufacturing.

Verdict reasoning

Baldwin's Buy American provisions were incorporated into the Bipartisan Infrastructure Act and CHIPS Act. The CHIPS Act ($280B) drove approximately $400B+ in announced semiconductor manufacturing investments. Build America Buy America (BABA) Act provisions strengthened domestic-sourcing requirements for federal infrastructure projects.

KeptAgriculturePROMISE #4

Wisconsin dairy industry support.

Verdict reasoning

Secured Wisconsin-specific dairy support including DMC (Dairy Margin Coverage) program enhancements in 2018 and 2024 Farm Bill negotiations. Co-sponsored DAIRY PRIDE Act on labeling of plant-based 'milk' products (not enacted but moved labeling discussion).

Full Inventory

All tracked promises

PartialClimate

Climate action.

Voted YES on IRA. Green New Deal resolution did not advance. Substantive climate investment delivered via IRA but at smaller scale than broader framework.

KeptHealthcare

Drug-price negotiation.

IRA Medicare drug-pricing negotiation passed. Baldwin YES.

KeptVeterans Affairs

Veterans healthcare.

PACT Act (August 2022) passed. Baldwin YES.

PartialVoting Rights

Restore voting rights / John Lewis VRA.

Voted YES on cloture; failed Republican filibuster + Manchin/Sinema rule-change opposition. Per obstruction rule, external obstruction.

BrokenReproductive Rights

Codify abortion rights.

WHPA cloture failed 49-51 (Manchin NO). Outcome not achieved.

#10

BrokenLabor

Pass PRO Act.

PRO Act House-passed; failed Senate filibuster.

#11

KeptGun Policy

Bipartisan Safer Communities Act / gun safety.

BSCA passed June 2022 (Baldwin YES). First major federal gun-safety legislation in 30 years.

#12

KeptForeign Policy

Support Ukraine.

Voted YES on every Ukraine aid package 2022-2024.

#13

PartialJudiciary

Confirm well-qualified judges.

Voted YES on Justice Jackson confirmation (April 2022). Voted to confirm hundreds of Biden lower-court nominees. Voted against multiple Trump-era nominees.

#14

PartialEducation

Reduce student debt.

Supported Biden's broad cancellation (SCOTUS-struck-down). Approximately $138B in narrower cancellations approved.

#15

You DecideHealthcare

Stand up to Big Pharma / lower drug prices.

IRA drug-pricing negotiation passed. Broader Pharma reform (Inflation Reduction Act 2.0 framework, removing patent-extension loopholes) did not pass. Whether the IRA constitutes 'standing up to Big Pharma' depends on framework.

#16

You DecideElectionsInferred

Defeat Donald Trump 2024.

Baldwin campaigned for Harris-Walz in 2024 and won her own Senate race. Trump won the presidency. Whether this counts as a kept or broken promise depends on whether 'defeat Trump' was Baldwin's own goal or a broader Democratic Party goal.

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